Pachaiyappa
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Legacy of Pachaiyappa
M T Saju, TNN | Oct 8, 2012 The Times of India
He was born three months after his father died. With the help of an old family friend, the mother of the new-born and her two daughters moved from Periyapalayam to a small house near Fort St George. As the boy grew up, the burden of taking care of the family fell on him. To start with, he sold small plastic containers that the ships brought from foreign countries. But the income from the petty sale didn't help. A meeting with Pawney Narayanapillai, a successful 'dubash' (expert in two languages) of that time, however changed his life. With the help of Narayanapillai, he learnt English and French and at 16 years of age became a dubash himself. At 28, he became one of the wealthiest men in Tamil Nadu.
It is said that the trust created based on the will executed by Pachaiyappa was one of the largest one in Asia in terms of properties in the 18th century. But writing a book on Pachaiyappa Mudaliyar (1754 to 1794) was not easy. Although Pachaiyappa amassed huge wealth during the 40 years that he lived, lack of information about this philanthropist's life prevented many from writing a book on him. Bharathan's "Nallaram Valarththa Vallal Pachaiyappar" reveal rare and striking details. So when he decided to write a book on Pachaiyappa, after he retired from the Pachaiyappa College in Chennai, the principal called him and said the management would bear the cost of publication. Bharathan, however, turned down the offer, saying "If I accept your offer, then I will be compelled to write the way you want to."
With the small pension amount, he travelled to all places where Pachaiyappa lived and amassed wealth, covering the places where he died and executed the historic will which eventually helped create the Pachiyappa's Trust after years of legal battle. "When he was 16, Pachaiyappa was appointed as a dubash. But the turning point in his life was in 1775 when he excelled as a tax collector of the British in Chengalpettu. Being a good negotiator, he was equally good with the British as well as the local farmers. He spent a major portion of his income on the restoration of temples," says Bharathan.
But what makes Pachaiyappa different from other dubashis is his simple lifestyle with love for fellow humans, according to Bharathan. "Dubashis lived a luxurious life those days. There are records that show how some dubashis travelled with huge processions. Pachaiyappa was different from these people. He bathed in Cooum, listened to Thevaram and shared food with poor people," says the author and retired Botany professor.
At a time when temples were destroyed by war or feud throughout Tamil Nadu, Pachaiyappa began renovating them spending from his wealth. "Pachaiyappa renovated many temples, the famous ones being the Ekambareshwarar temple in Kancheepuram and Nataraja temples in Chidambaram and Kumbakonam. Besides these, he constructed a number of resting places for the poor. Unfortunately, many are in ruins now," he says.
Pachiyappa's relationship with the Raja of Than-javur was very well known.
